Thieves ransacked a charity shop, taking a number of donations as well as collection tins and the store’s stereo system.

St Luke’s charity shop in St Anns Road, Harrow, fell victim to the crime on September 27 with items intended to be sold at Christmas also stolen.

Lisa Dodwell, head of retail operations at St Luke’s, said the break-in was an “attack on the kindness” of those who had donated to the shop and that it has affected all associated with it.

She said: “This terrible incident caused St Luke’s Hospice to not only lose time and money but also caused a great deal of upset for our committed team of staff and volunteers who struggled to understand this senseless crime.

“Our committed supporters have donated goods to the shops to benefit the hospice and this is also an attack on their kindness for a local cause.”

Perfume gift sets, which bring in a substantial amount for the hospice over the Christmas period, were among the items stolen, as were several pieces of jewellery.

The shop has since launched an appeal to the public to help replenish the stolen goods.

It relies on charitable donations for more than 75 per cent of the funds it needs to provide free hospice care in Harrow.

Ms Dodwell added: “In 2016, the shops raised over £745,000 for St Luke’s. Our St Anns shop is a very busy shop, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

“The theft will have an impact on the sales we make in the shop and, in turn, this will impact the donations that will go towards patient care at the hospice.”

Goods can be dropped at the shop during opening hours – 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday – or at the St Luke’s Warehouse in Dalston Gardens, Stanmore.